Roofing Alliance president Rod Petrick has issued a challenge to all Roofing Alliance and NRCA members: to adopt the remaining 53 roofs of the 165 stand-alone Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the United States by November 30. Petrick’s goal of inspecting, repairing, maintaining and replacing these roofs is within reach and will impact families with sick children across the country by keeping them together when they need it most. Numerous roofing professionals have already risen to the challenge by adopting 112 of the roofs.

At 166 members strong, the Roofing Alliance serves as the foundation for the National Roofing Contractors Association and is a dedicated forum of roofing contractors, manufacturers, distributors, service providers and industry professionals who promote and fund the advancement of roofing through research, education, technology and philanthropic initiatives to help the roofing industry and their greater communities.

In April of 2017, the Roofing Alliance began working with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) by supporting their efforts to help families with critically ill children stay together and near the hospitals providing them medical care. Ronald McDonald Houses provide private sleeping rooms, meals, and opportunities for families to interact as they go through difficult times. Through sponsorship funds and the adoption of the roofs of the 165 stand-alone Ronald McDonald Houses in the U.S., the Roofing Alliance has brought together roofing professionals and companies who donate their time and talents to provide regular roof system inspections, maintenance, repairs and replacements.

“This fall we have been reaching out to our Roofing Alliance and NRCA member to collect data, so we can help the Ronald McDonald Houses with their roof replacement plans,” said Petrick, owner of Ridgeworth Roofing, Frankfort, Illinois. “We’re asking our contractors to inspect the roofs and report back to us on the condition of the roof, the roofing system currently in place, the estimated life expectancy, anticipated and actual work to be done, and the dollar value of the in-kind labor and materials provided or available. Once we receive the information, we enter it into our database and establish a baseline of roof conditions, so we can begin helping RMHC develop roof maintenance and replacement plans.”

Alliance members take pride in knowing that their work truly makes a difference. Petrick put his words into action this summer when his company, along with Bennett & Brosseau Roofing of Romeoville, Illinois, collaborated on steep-slope repairs, the reroof of a four-story flat roof section and a skylight restoration at the Ronald McDonald House near Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. “During the experience, I found out that a member of my crew utilized a Ronald McDonald House when his child was sick; this really hit home for us,” Petrick added.

Another Roofing Alliance and NRCA member, Charles Antis, CEO and founder of Antis Roofing and Waterproofing in Irvine, California, was the member who initially brought the RMHC initiative to the Roofing Alliance’s attention. He is proud of Petrick’s continued work and mission to make the initiative such a success. “Rod envisions comfortable and dry Ronald McDonald Houses available for families with sick children across this country,” Antis stated. “We want to be sure that we get roofing companies connected to all 165 Houses. It is an amazing opportunity for the roofing industry to give back on such a large scale.”

Susan E. Kenny, development director for the Orange County (California) Ronald McDonald House, worked with Antis Roofing and Waterproofing to repair the roof on her location. Kenny said if Antis would not have made the roof repairs, the organization would have never known there was something wrong; she’s very grateful for their work. “What started as a simple conversation about how we could work together to support our Orange County families soon developed into a national partnership to support RMHC families across the country,” Kenny added. “I love how Charles and his team think big! It’s not just about our neighbors; it’s about what they can do to make our world a better place. The engagement of the Roofing Alliance at all levels has created incredible momentum.”

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress will host seven teams from undergraduate universities across the United States to compete in its fourth annual Construction Management Student Competition. This is the largest group to compete in the hallmark competition that promotes careers in construction management and will culminate with presentations at NRCA’s 131st Annual Convention and the 2018 International Roofing Expo (IRE) in New Orleans.

The competition is part of an educational partnership with schools of construction management: McWhorter School of Building Sciences at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama; Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction at the University of Florida, Gainesville., Florida; Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama; Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia; and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to providing a significant learning opportunity, the Alliance’s 2018 Construction Management Student Competition fosters an environment that is meant to bring out the best in each team; encourage dialogue among the students; and foster team spirit as students rise to meet the challenge.

Teams participating in the competition have been presented with a problem statement: Create a company to bid on installing a roof system on the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Each team is required to research the project, review the plans and specifications, and assemble a full estimate and proposal to submit a qualified bid package. All teams must strive to find a competitive edge in their estimate to beat their competition while still maintaining a reasonable margin. For this project, it is important to decide on the correct application methods, show overall roofing knowledge and illustrate a company team is prepared to undertake the project.

Oral presentations will take place Feb. 7 from 7:45 to 11:15 a.m. during NRCA’s 131st Annual Convention and the 2018 International Roofing Expo at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The winning teams will be announced during NRCA’s Industry Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception Feb. 7.

For more information about the Alliance student competition, contact Bennett Judson, the Alliance’s executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513, or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has announced the addition of three new members who will add $150,000 in funding for progressive research that contributes to the ongoing advancement of the roofing industry.

The Alliance’s newest members are:

Trent Cotney, Individual Level
Since 1999, Trent Cotney, a construction lawyer based in Tampa Bay, Fla., has represented contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, developers, suppliers, manufacturers, sales representatives and others in the construction industry on all aspects of construction litigation and arbitration. In addition to being bar licensed in Florida, Cotney also is licensed in Tennessee and Texas. He volunteers and advocates on behalf of a variety charitable organizations that are dedicated to improving his community and bettering the construction industry.

Rackley Roofing, Governor Level
Established in 1974, Rackley Roofing is one of the leading industrial and commercial roofing contractors serving many areas in Tennessee, including Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville. As a full-service roofing company, Rackley Roofing prides itself on a reputation for unparalleled service and customer satisfaction, and possesses a rare combination of respect for the traditional craftsmanship of professional roofing contractors and a passion for the latest technological innovations

Bluefin LLC, Service Provider Level
Bluefin LLC is a national roof system, building envelope and pavement consultant serving clients with large facility footprints. Bluefin helps its clients plan, prioritize and manage facility maintenance and upgrades, including roof system inspection and moisture analysis, life-cycle cost analysis and budget recommendations, risk identification and mitigation, roof system maintenance concurrent with assessments, energy and sustainability programs.

Through the generosity of its members, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress commits to engage collaborative industry segments to embrace innovation and use technology; advocate environmentally sustainable design; and enrich the well-being of the roofing community through scholarships, charitable gifts and endowments.

Alliance membership is reserved for those who commit their pledged amount during a three- to five-year period. All members are entitled to participate in the task forces established to guide the Alliance’s agenda and to attend the semiannual meeting of the full Alliance.

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has announced the recipients of its 2017 Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarships, which include five new recipients and the renewal of six scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year.

A Fred Good Scholarship also was renewed for Ivy Rivas, Tujunga, Calif., attending University of California Davis, Davis, Calif.

Each recipient will receive a $5,000 award. Awards are renewable for up to three years of undergraduate study or until a bachelor’s degree is earned provided recipients renew annually and maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).

A total of $55,000 in scholarships was awarded for the 2017-18 school year—$30,000 for renewals and $25,000 for new recipients. To date, 122 students have received $735,000 in scholarship awards.

RMHC helps families with sick children stay together and close to the medical care and resources their children need, when they need it most. The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress will provide support to the Ronald McDonald House program that offers much more than a place to stay. The Houses provide meals and the support and resources families need when their child is hospitalized or being treated at a hospital far from home. The House program allows families to focus solely on their child’s health and treatment, while RMHC takes care of the family.

“This collaboration will ensure the families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses will have a comfortable place to stay while their children are receiving the critical care that they need,” said Bennett Judson, executive director of The Alliance.

This partnership is also a strategic fit with the Charity’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the work they have done to ensure effective management of their Houses.
One or more members of The Alliance or National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) will be identified to partner with local RMHC Chapters to provide needed roof system services at each location. Roof system replacements will be managed as individual projects, and, if necessary, several roofing contractors and manufacturers may be asked to contribute.
The partnership between the two organizations became official April 2017 during The Alliance’s member meeting in Coronado, Calif.

With work already begun with Chicago and Philadelphia area locations, The Alliance is looking forward to providing this critical piece of support to the RMHC System nationwide.

To learn more about this partnership or to connect with local Ronald McDonald Houses, please contact Bennett Judson at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513, or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net.

B&M Roofing, a Colorado-owned company, will mark 70 years of service to Front Range residential and commercial clients starting this month.

Since 1947, B&M Roofing has put its commitment to excellence at the forefront of every project it handles. As a founding member of the Roofing Alliance for Progress and an advocate for on-site safety, B&M Roofing has made it a priority to steer the industry. From commercial projects such as the Denver Coliseum and Coors field to residential construction and emergency repair.

“We’ve been fortunate to be able to balance our long-range vision against commercial and residential divisions,” Brad Taylor, vice president says. “Everything works together to allow us to provide every customer the benefit of our experience.”

Founded in Fort Collins in 1947 as a single-truck operation, B&M Roofing has grown to provide service to thousands of customers a year. Emphasizing customer service and safety on every project, B&M Roofing understands its 70-year tradition of excellence was built one roof at a time, and strives to continue to build on that tradition with every project it completes in 2017.

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November/December 2018

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About Roofing

Roofing is a national publication that unravels, investigates and analyzes how to properly design, install and maintain a roof system. Through the voices of professionals in the field, Roofing’s editorial provides a unique perspective.